MOONEY] SONGS OF THE SIOUX 1073 



Translation 



Verily, I have given yon my strength, 

 Says the father, says the father. 

 The shirt, "will cause you to live. 

 Says the father, says the father. 



This song also refers to the ghost shirt, which was supposed to make 

 the wearer invulnerable. 



22. MichI nkshi T.UIE N'A 



Michi'nkshi tahe'na ku'piye, 

 Mich] nkslii tahe'na ku'piye, 

 Mako'che wan washte aya'gali'pi-kte, 



A'te he'ye lo', a'te he'ye lo'. 



Translation 



My child, come this way, 



My child, come this way. 



Yon will take home with you a good country, 



Says the father, says the father. 



This song may refer to the vision of the new earth, which the mes- 

 siah showed to the Sioux delegates when they visited him. (See page 

 797.) The first line means literally "return in this direction," the 

 imperative form used being between a command and an entreaty. 



23. Waxa wiche'shka 



Wana wiche'shka a'ti-ye. 



Wana wiche'shka a'ti-ye. 



Wihu'ta oho'mani, wihu ta oho'mani, 



Oka'tafina, oka t anna, 



Koyaii wowa'hiil-kte, 



Koyafi wowa'kifi-kte. 



Translation 



Now set up the tipi, 



Now set up the tipi. 



Around the bottom. 



Around the bottom, 



Drive in the pegs, 



Drive in the pegs. 



In the meantime I shall cook, 



In the meantime I shall cook. 



The form of the verb oka'tanna shows that it is a woman speaking, 

 even if we did not learn this from the context. To those who know the 

 Indian life it brings up a vivid picture of a prairie band on the inarch, 

 halting at noon or in the evening. As soon as the halt is called by 

 some convenient stream, the women jump down and release the horses 

 from the wagons (or the travois in the old times), and hobble them to 



